Wayne, NJ (2/14/04) - Sophomore Allison Mopsick (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan) hit a free throw with 4.5 seconds left to break a 62-62 tie, helping William Paterson knock off rival Montclair State, 65-62, Saturday in a battle of New Jersey Athletic Conference Blue Division rivals at the Rec Center.

With the victory, the Pioneers (13-9, 8-4 NJAC) can clinch at least a tie for second place in the NJAC Blue Division and possibly a first-round home game against the Blue Division's third-place team on Monday, Feb. 23. Montclair State (18-5, 7-4 NJAC), led by sophomore EBONY ALLEN's (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) 17 points and six rebounds, has already clinched a NJAC Tournament invite and is awaiting its seeding.

Senior Kat McPhail (Sparta, NJ/Hopatcong) led all scorers with 18 points for the Pioneers, while freshman Luci Custis (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Junior Adrienne Kopko (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

MSU received 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks from freshman STEPHANIE MACHIN (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) and 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks from sophomore AMANDA MULLANEY (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Ford). The Red Hawks also got 10 points from senior PAM BARONE (Staten Island, NY/St. John's Villa Academy). Montclair State led, 40-30, after a jumper by Allen with 14:50 left, before the Pioneers began their comeback.

William Paterson took a 50-49 lead on a three-point play by sophomore Barrie Quick (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) with 6:20 remaining and seized a 60-56 advantage on a lay-up by Custis with 1:25 remaining. However, the Red Hawks forged a 62-62 tied with :13 left on a lay-up by Allen. Mopsick then iced the game for the Pioneers, though, by hitting the go-ahead free throw. After a Montclair turnover, she hit two more with 1.7 seconds to go.

Montclair State travels to Rutgers-Camden on Thursday, Feb. 19, for a 7 p.m. tip-off.